None at this time

The Hydrology and Water Quality Basin Plan Amendment Project is being developed as a proposed Basin Plan amendment and represents a long‑term initiative to address water quality impacts associated with altered hydrologic conditions across the North Coast region.

The Hydrology and Water Quality Basin Plan Amendment Project was first identified as a priority during the 2014 Triennial Review and formally included in the Planning Program Workplan in the 2018 Triennial Review as the Narrative Flow Objective project. It was reaffirmed and included again in the 2023 Triennial Review, underscoring its continued importance in regional water quality planning. The initial objectives were to develop instream flow criteria for the Navarro River and create a regional narrative flow objective with an implementation methodology. These efforts were intended to describe hydrologic conditions necessary to prevent nuisance conditions, provide a basis for evaluating cumulative impacts under waste discharge requirements, develop implementation approaches for addressing impacts to streamflow that fall under the North Coast Water Board’s authorities, and support CEQA analyses, groundwater sustainability planning, and water rights permitting.
Early work included the Navarro River Instream Flow Needs Study Plan completed in 2019, which focused on numeric objectives. However, the high cost of implementation and limited geographic scope led to a strategic pivot toward a regional narrative approach that is more broadly applicable and cost-effective.

The project has shifted from developing a narrative water quality objective for flow to pursuing a basin plan amendment in Chapter 5, Regionwide Implementation, Prohibitions, Plans, and Policies. This amendment would establish a foundation to address water quality impacts associated with hydrologic changes and deliver direct improvements in water quality. Key elements include policies and implementation tools for addressing impacts on hydrologic function, hydromodification and runoff management, and water conservation.